Air conditioning unit



March 23, 1965 J. A. Pn-:Tscl-l 3,174,539

AIR CONDITIONING UNIT Filed Dec. 27, 1962 INVENTOR. J'GSEPH A. PIETSCH H lS ATTORNEY 3,174,539 AIR CONDITIONING UNIT Joseph A. Pietsch, Louisville, Ky., assignor to General Electric Company, a corporation of New York Filed Dec. 27, 1962, Ser. No. 247,598 3 Claims. (Cl. 165-76) The present invention relates to air conditioners of the self-contained type and is particularly concerned with an air conditioning unit of improved and lightweight construction.

In general room air conditioners comprise a unitary self-supporting housing enclosing the usual components of a refrigerating system such as the compressor, heat exchangers and fans. The present invention is particularly concerned with an air conditioner of lightweight construction in which a heat exchanger component of the refrigerating system performs the additional function of forming a structural component of the case or housing for the refrigerating system.

A more specific object vof the invention is to provide a room air conditioner in which a heat exchanger, more specically the refrigerant conduit portion of the heat exchanger, provides the sole means for supporting the top wall of the air conditioner housing with reference to the bottom wall or base thereof.`

Another object of the invention is to provide an air conditioner unit including a combination appearance grilie and heat exchanger assembly including vertical refrigerant passes arranged to form part of the unit housing structure. Y

Further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent as the following description proceeds and the features of novelty which characterize the invention will be pointed out with purticularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this specification.

In carrying out the objects of the present invention, there is provided an air conditioning unit comprising a base for supporting and positioning the components of a refrigerating system including a heat exchanger. The heat exchanger comprises a plurality of vertically extending refrigerant passes connected by upper and lower return bends. vThe heat exchanger forms part of the housing structure and to this end the lower return bends of the heat exchanger are supported along at least one edge portion of the base while the upper return bends are secured to a corresponding edge portion of the top wall of unit housing whereby the heat exchanger furnishes columnar support between the base and top wall. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the heat exchanger is part of a combination appearance grille and heat exchanger assembly which in addition to heat exchanger tubing includes a lightweight grille of sheet aluminum or the like secured to the heat exchanger passes and also includes means for securing the combination assembly to the top and bottom walls of the air conditioner housing.

For a better understanding of the invention reference may be had to the accompanying drawing in which:

FIGURE l is a plan view partially in section illustrating a preferred embodiment of the air conditioning unit of the present invention; and

FIGURE 2 is a vertical sectional view taken generally along line 2-21of FIGURE l.

United States Patent O ICC Referring to the drawing, there is shown a self-contained room air conditioner comprising a base or base pan 1 of generally rectangular shape provided with an upturned peripheral flange 2 which strengthens the base. This base pan 1 provides the main mounting support for the various components of the air conditioning or refrigerating system which includes a hermetic compressor unit 3, an indoor heat exchanger or evaporator 4, an outdoor heat exchanger or condenser 5 and fans 6 and 7 driven by a motor S for respectively circulating room air over the evaporator 4 and outdoor air over the condenser 5 and the hermetic compressor 3. A partition 9 extending transversely of the base 1 divides the base and the air conditioning unit into an indoor compartment section inciuding the evaporator 4 and the fan 6 and an outdoor compartment 10 including the compressor 3 and condenser 5 as well as the motor 3 and the condenser fan 7.

The indoor or evaporator compartment is enclosed in a housing comprising in addition to the forward end portion of the base 1, a top wall 12 and side and end walls connecting the top wall 12 with the base 1.Y

In accordance with the present invention, the condenser 5 forms at least a portion of the supporting wall structure defining the outdoor or condenser compartment 10. In the illustrated embodiment of the invention, there is provided a combination which provides both an appearance and structural component of the unit as well as a heat exchange function. This assembly comprises the condenser 5 which includesV a refrigerant conduit 15 bent to form a plurality of verticallyextending passes 16 connected by upper return bends 17 and lower return bends 18. The conduit 15 is provided with radially extending metal tins such as the spine-like tins 19 assembled on the conduit 15 prior to the forming or bending thereto to serpentine form. Preferably when the conduit 15 is bent to form the passes 16, the return bends 17'and 18 are sharp enough so Vthat the iins 19 on adjacent passes will overlap as illustrated in FIGURE 2. With this type of fin construction the tins can be continuous on the Yconduit 15 and can be crushed or bent as indicated by the dotted lines 2t) in FIGURE 2 of the drawing to permit the conduit 15 to be bent to a serpentine configuration.

The condenser may form any part or portion of the wall structure, or the entire vertical wall portion of the outer `or condenser compartment 10 of the air conditioner. The preferred embodiment shows conduit 15 to be bent or formed so that the heat exchanger 5 is in the form of a U-s'naped member in which some of the vertical passes 16 are on each of the side walls 21 and 22 of the compartment 10 and others are on the outer or end wall 23 of that compartment. By this arrangement when thefan 7 is operating to draw airinto the compartment 10 primariiy through end wall 23, the air is discharged from the compartment 10 through the side walls 21 and 22.

While tins such as the spine-like tins 19 provide very good extended heat exchange surfaces, these fins are quite fragile and accordingly it is desirable that some means be provided for protecting them from being accidentally bent or crushed. Accordingly there is also preferably provided alightweight aluminum grille 25 for protecting the fins and for providing a pleasing exterior surface for the unit. The grille of louvered, expanded or'perforated sheet metal, such as aluminum, contains a plurality of air 'passages or'openi'ngs' 24 therein which permit the fan 7 to draw outside air inwardly through some of the openings 24 and to discharge that air outwardly over other of these openings.

When a decorative grille 25 is employed to protect the fins 19 of the condenser 5, this grille is preferably also employed as means for connecting the heat exchanger to the base 1 and the top wall 14. To this end, the grille 2S is formed to the same shape as the condenser, as for example U-shaped, to provide a grille section 26 and 27 on the side walls of the compartment and a section 28 on the end wall of that compartment. Each section includes inwardly extending ilanges 30 at the top thereof and inwardly extending flanges 31 at the bottom thereof adapted to overlie the upper and lower end turns 1'7 and 18 of the condenser conduit 15. Bendable tabs 32 formed integral with the grille 25 are adapted to be bent down lover each of the end turns after assembly of the grille r25 onto the condenser 5 so as to firmly attach the grille to the condenser. In order to provide space for the ns 19, the central or mid portion 33 of the grille is preferably offset over substantially the straight length portions of the heat exchanger conduit sufficient to space the grille from the conduit 15 a distance at least equal to the length of the fins 19.

With the grille mounted on the end turns 17 and 18 .of the condenser 5 by means of the tabs 32, the grille in turn provides means for securing the condenser 5 to the base 1. To this end the grille is designed to nest .within the upturned edgeportions 2 of the base 1 with the lower ange 31 resting on the dat portion of the base 1. Thus the lower end turns 18 are directly supported by the base 1. The top wall 14 is similarly supported on the top flanges of the grille 25 and the upper and lower edges of the grille are respectively secured to the base 1 and to the top 14 by means of screws 38 extending respectively through the upturned peripheral portion 2 of the base and the downwardly extending flange 39 forming the peripheral edge portions of the top wall 14. Since the top wall 14 rests directly on the ilanges 30 which in turn rest directly on the end turns 17, it will be seen that there is provided a structure in which the vertical passes 16 furnish columnar support between the top wall 14 and the base 1. A relatively lightweight grille 25 can then be employed since the grille does not have to bear any of the forces which may be applied to the top wall 14.

With the heat exchanger S supporting the peripheral edges of the top wall 14 about the two sides and the end of the compartment 10 no additional support is required for these portions of the top Wall 14. The inner t or partition edge 40 of the top wall is shaped to overlap the upper edge of the partition 9 and to be supported by this partition.

From the above description, it will be seen that there has been provided a room air conditioner in which the usual strengthening walls of the unit housing forming the outside or exposed walls of the compartment 10 have been replaced structurally by means of the condenser 5. In other words the condenser 5 performs not only its heat exchange function but it performs an additional function in forming part of the structural enclosure for the unit. Thus the total weight of the unit is decreased Vby the weight of the usual structural or load supporting grille which would otherwise be provided in these portions of a unit. If desired the lightweight protective grille may also be eliminated and the upper and lower portions of the heat exchangers secured directly to the top wall 14 and the base 1 by means of corresponding tabs 32 provided directly on these members.

While there has been shown and described what is believed to be the preferred embodiment of the present invention, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the invention and it is intended by the appended claims to cover all such changes v' and modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope.

of the invention.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters 5 Patent of the United States s:

1. An air conditioning unit comprising a base for supporting the components of a refrigerating system including a heat exchanger,

a lightweight appearance grille forming the side and end walls of said outdoor chamber,

said grille including inwardly extending top and bottom flanges,

a heat exchanger comprising a plurality of vertically extending passes connected by upper and lower return bends,

said heat exchanger being formed to be received between the top and bottom flanges of said grille with the upper and lower return bends respectively engaging said top and bottom anges;

said grille including tabs on said anges for engaging said return bends and securing said heat exchanger to said grille,

means for supporting said grille on said base with the lower anges thereof resting substantially on said base,

a top wall for said unit,

means securing edge portions of said top wall to the upper portion of said grille,

said heat exchanger providing the sole means for supporting said top wall.

2. An air conditioning unit comprising a base for supporting the components of a refrigerating system including a heat exchanger,

a partition dividing said unit into an indoor chamber and an outdoor chamber,

an appearance grille forming the side and end walls of said outdoor chamber,

said grille including inwardly extending top and bottom anges,

a heat exchanger comprising a plurality of vertically extending passes connected by upper and lower return bends,

said heat exchanger being formed to be received between the top and bottom flanges of said grille with the upper and lower return bends respectively engaging said top and bottom anges,

said grille including tabs on said anges for engaging said return bends and securing said heat exchanger to said grille,

means for securing said grille to said base with the lower anges thereof resting substantially on said base,

a top wall for said outdoor chamber,

means for securing the edge portions of said top wall to the upper portion of said grille,

said heat exchanger providing the sole means for supporting said top Wall.

3. An air conditioning unit comprising a base for sup- 60 porting the components of a refrigerating system including a heat exchanger,

a partition dividing said unit into an indoor chamber and an outdoor chamber,

a lightweight appearance grille forming the side and end walls of said outdoor chamber,

said grille including inwardly extending top and bottom flanges,

a heat exchanger comprising a plurality of vertically extending passes connected by upper and lower return bends,

said heat exchanger being formed to be received between the top and bottom flanges of said grille with the upper and lower return bends respectively engaging said top and bottom flanges,

References Cited bythe Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS Goetz et a1. 165--122 X Replogle 62--298 X Boicom 62-262 X Gundrurn et a1 165-76 X Pfeiffer 165-262 X Wood 165-122 10 CHRALES SUKALO, Primary Examiner.

FREDERICK L. MATTESON, JR., JAMES W. WEST- HAVER, Examiners. Y 

1. AN AIR CONDITIONING UNIT COMPRISING A BASE FOR SUPPORTING THE COMPONENTS OF A REFRIGERATING SYSTEM INCLUDING A HEAT EXCHANGER, A LIGHTWEIGHT APPEARANCE GRILLE FORMING THE SIDE AND END WALLS OF SAID OUTDOOR CHAMBER, SAID GRILLE INCLUDING INWARDLY EXTENDING TOP AND BOTTOM FLANGES, A HEAT EXCHANGER COMPRISING A PLURALITY OF VERTICALLY EXTENDING PASSES CONNECTED BY UPPER AND LOWER RETURN BENDX, SAID HEAT EXCHANGER BEING FORMED TO BE RECEIVED BETWEEN THE TOP AND BOTTOM FLANGES OF SAID GRILLE WITH THE UPPER AND LOWER RETURN BENDS RESPECTIVELY ENGAGING SAID TOP AND BOTTOM FLANGES; SAID GRILLE INCLUDING TABS ON SAID FLANGES FOR ENGAGING SAID RETURN BENDS AND SECURING SAID HEAT EXCHANGER TO SAID GRILLE, MEANS FOR SUPPORTING SAID GRILLE ON SAID BASE WITH THE LOWER FLANGES THEREOF RESTING SUBSTANTIALLY ON SAID BASE, A TOP WALL FOR SAID UNIT, MEANS SECURING EDGE PORTIONS OF SAID TOP WALL TO THE UPPER PORTION OF SAID GRILLE, SAID HEAT EXCHANGER PROVIDING THE SOLE MEANS FOR SUPPORTING SAID TOP WALL. 